OT: the big crater where Bradford city centre used to be : Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:27 pm  

From the comments on this T&A story... Taken from The Sunday Express 1/2/09 (front page of the financial section) ‘Bradford Centre Stalled as Retailers Stay Away’ Reporter: Heath Aston Westfield has failed to sign up enough retailers to begin construction of it’s long-promised Bradford shopping centre. The recession-hit £350 million project HAS BEEN SHELVED (my emphasis) for the time being despite the completion of preparatory groundwork, raising the prospect that Bradford city centre will be blighted by a muddy hole for years to come. Westfield, which promised in 2005 that the much-needed regeneration scheme would be completed by 2008, said it was “targeting a 2010 opening” but conceded there was NO PLAN TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION (again my emphasis). How long will Bradford city centre have to continue to look this... ... before anyone in the national press takes serious note? Am I wrong in thinking it's not normal for a city to carry on in this state for the best part of a decade and more? Is this our bid to secure the undisputed title of Britain's Detroit?

From the comments on this T&A story... Taken from The Sunday Express 1/2/09 (front page of the financial section) ‘Bradford Centre Stalled as Retailers Stay Away’ Reporter: Heath Aston Westfield has failed to sign up enough retailers to begin construction of it’s long-promised Bradford shopping centre. The recession-hit £350 million project HAS BEEN SHELVED (my emphasis) for the time being despite the completion of preparatory groundwork, raising the prospect that Bradford city centre will be blighted by a muddy hole for years to come. Westfield, which promised in 2005 that the much-needed regeneration scheme would be completed by 2008, said it was “targeting a 2010 opening” but conceded there was NO PLAN TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION (again my emphasis). How long will Bradford city centre have to continue to look this... ... before anyone in the national press takes serious note? Am I wrong in thinking it's not normal for a city to carry on in this state for the best part of a decade and more? Is this our bid to secure the undisputed title of Britain's Detroit?

Re: OT: the big crater where Bradford city centre used to be : Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:37 pm  

af wrote:

... before anyone in the national press takes serious note?

When the local press doesn't even care no-one else is likely to be bothered.

In fact it's been a few weeks since the T&A last published a Westfield press release, erm sorry, news story about how it's all set to go ahead in a few months time.

Re: OT: the big crater where Bradford city centre used to be : Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:49 pm  

af wrote: From the comments on this T&A story... I clocked that too. Couldn't find the Express article but did find this: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 13,00.html

af wrote: From the comments on this T&A story... I clocked that too. Couldn't find the Express article but did find this: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 13,00.html

: Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:56 pm  

It's well over ten years since I lived in Bradford and seeing as I spent most of that time three sheets to the wind, I can't place where that crater is.

Someone tell me, please. It's bugging the hell out of me.

: Fri Feb 06, 2009 12:00 am  

From Forster Square to halfway down Broadway.

: Fri Feb 06, 2009 12:16 am  

Stul wrote:

It's well over ten years since I lived in Bradford and seeing as I spent most of that time three sheets to the wind, I can't place where that crater is.

Someone tell me, please. It's bugging the hell out of me.

The road you can see is the one that runs from the bottom of Leeds Road, past where the old train station was and the new courts are, the T&A building and on past St Georges Hall and the town hall. Not sure what it's called there but at least once you see it pass between those buildings it becomes Hall Ings.

: Fri Feb 06, 2009 12:53 am  

So is it definitely cancelled?

: Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:48 am  

Thanks for the photo, it helps to understand what has happened to the City Centre. Last time I was in Bradford was December 1999 and it didn't look like that. It reminds me of my trip to Dresden in 1994, whose City Centre was still a series of bombed out houses and craters.
I am visiting Bradford at the end of the month. Today, in Denver, it was bright sunshine and a high of 22C. I don't expect to see those temperatures in Bradford in late February/early March.
2 questions. Does the City Circle bus route still exist? or is there a better way to get to Odsal from Wellington Road/Dudley Hill Road (Giants game).
Does the club run coaches to away games (Wigan)?

: Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:41 am  

Bullseye is getting worried. Apparently that's where he buried FA.

: Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:02 am  

tigertot wrote:

Bullseye is getting worried. Apparently that's where he buried FA.

I wouldn't have thought it was big enough to fit his head in.